Managers Thoughts After 6-1 Win Over Nuneaton Town

Wrexham player-manager Andy Morrell was in buoyant mood in the aftermath of Wrexham’s 6-1 victory over Nuneaton Town yesterday, a result that lifts his side up to second in the table.

‘We were good in patches today, especially in the final third and in the first half. We were a bit nervy, a bit apprehensive for the first 15-20 minutes, because, coming off the back of a defeat, you want to do well. But once we scored a good goal that settled us down a little bit. I didn’t think they could live with the movement of our front and middle three.’

‘It was a difficult second-half, at 3-0 up some people go into cruise mode. I was disappointed to concede, it’s frustrating, but it was important just to get three points today, to bounce back from the Kettering game, so I’m pleased, and we scored some really good goals.’

The striker, who grabbed the second goal, was quick to praise the depth of his squad, who combined to guide the club to its first league victory at the Racecourse since October.

‘A few players would have been disappointed not to make the starting eleven after last week, but I picked a team that I felt was capable of winning the game today and they have. The lads that have come on reacted in the right way, Rob (Ogleby) took his goal well and Cieslewicz scored an absolutely fabulous strike. Everyone’s chomping at the bit, which is what we want.’

Such is the depth of Wrexham’s squad that 18 players have featured on the scoresheet already this season, with just defenders Danny Devine and Danny Alfie failing to contribute yet, ‘It’s an incredible statistic. I would obviously like someone to be on 25 by now, but with the way we play that’s not going to be the case. If the goals are coming from anywhere I don’t really care. If you can add a striker who scores 15 or 20 then even better, the problem is that they cost money.’

The victory has set Wrexham up for an intriguing top-of-the-table clash with Grimsby Town at Blundell Park on Friday week ‘They’re flying, doing really well and they’ve got a good squad. It’s going to be a good game, I’m looking forward to it.’

Wrexham’s unlikely two-goal hero yesterday was defender Neil Ashton, who lavished praise on the forward play which fashioned the side’s resounding victory.

‘The first half we moved the ball superbly well, and the movement was epitomized by the first goal. Some of the play was really pleasing to watch and be involved in, it’s what we’ve missed the last couple of weeks, we haven’t had that spark but it just seemed to click today.’

After a sedate opening, Wrexham’s first goal, created by an inspirational flick from the 36-year old Brett Ormerod, transformed the complexion of the match, ‘We were a little bit edgy and we tend to be a little tentative until we get that first goal. We want to try and score from every opportunity; I think we need to learn to try and be a bit more patient at times, take an extra pass.’

‘Our fitness really showed today, we knew we had a couple more gears than them and that showed in the second half. We just contained them without doing anything special ourselves. Keates’ run for the penalty in the 90th minute just shows the willingness we’ve got in our squad.’

Ashton’s double salvo took his total to five this season and the left-back has set himself a target of double figures for the season – something he has not achieved since he was 12. With Wrexham in free-scoring mode and goal-scoring responsibility being shared around the team, who would back against the defender to realize his dream?